City Council Meeting Date: June 12, 2018
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: David E. Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Update on the Depot Project and Discussion of Hiawathaland Transit Grant Application for Transit Hub Project.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council receives an update on the Depot Project and Transit Hub.
Summary Report:
At the September 19, 2017 City Council meeting staff provided an update the site work improvement plans that have been completed for the project. At that time, the preliminary design costs were estimated to be around $250,000 for the site work. The site work improvements currently include the following costs: preliminary design, construction design, access road, curbing, and conduit for future lighting.
The City set aside $150,000 in funding from TIF 4 to fund the improvements. Understanding a funding gap existed, staff reached out to Hiawathaland Transit in the fall to inquire if there are additional options. Hiawathaland indicated they could apply for a grant from MnDOT for the transit building and transit share of the site improvements. This would allow the ability to leverage the local match dollars from TIF 4.
Fast forward, Hiawathaland Transit Director Amy Repinski recently resigned her position and they are currently in the process of filling the position. They have begun to prepare the grant submittal to MnDOT but it is currently not completed. Staff will be working to assist them on getting this application completed.
It is anticipated that the grant will be applied for this summer. If awarded, the spring of 2019 would be the soonest construction could commence. Staff is recommending to bring a council support resolution to a future council meeting to commit its intent to support the local funding match to supplement with the grant application. This is tentatively scheduled for July 17, 2018.
Additionally, the Northfield Economic Development Authorit...
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